Display device



W. P-.SPRINGER DISPLAY DEVICE Aug. 22, 1961 Filed NOV. 17, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug. 22, 1961 w. P. SPRINGER DISPLAY DEVICE I5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 17, 1960 1961 w. P. SPRINGER 2,996,820

DISPLAY DEVICE Filed NOV. 17, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 United States atent 2,996,820 Patented Aug. 22, 1961 Gee 2,996,820 DISPLAY DEVICE Warren P. Springer, 123 Bragaw Ave., Newark, NJ. Filed Nov. 17, 1960, Ser. No. 70,018 17 Claims. (Cl. 40-31) The present invention relates to display devices and more particularly to a portable display device for use as a visual aid to instruction, or in otherwise communicating information, wherein a sheet material containing writing, diagrams or other information and providing a writing surface is moved across a display surface under the control of the operator.

An object of the invention is to provide such a display device which is compact and self-contained and can conveniently be stored and transported.

A further object is to provide such a display device which is equipped with its own stand and which may be quickly set up for use.

A further object is to provide such a display device wherein the display surface is collapsible, contributing to ease of poratability and storage of the device while permitting the use of a large display surface.

A further object is to provide a display device wherein any of the material to be displayed, within the capacity of the device, can be rapidly brought to the display position at the will of the operator.

Other and further objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of presently preferred embodiments thereof selected for purposes of illustration and exposition of the invention, wherein reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view, showing certain parts in phantom, of the device when closed and in condition to be transported;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 1 but showing the device partly set up for operation;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the device when set up for operation and showing the front of the display surface, as seen by the audience;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 3 but showing the back of the device when fully set up for operation;

FIG. 5 is a rear elevation of one side of the device, showing details of the means for mounting and driving the rollers which carry the display material;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 5 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 7-7 of FIG. 4 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 8 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 8-8 of FIG. 5 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 9 is a phantom perspective view of the device in closed condition, showing a modification of the automatic means for moving the main body of the display device from its carrying position within the case to its display position;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the modification of FIG. 9, showing the display device in condition for use;

FIG. 11 is a view similar to a part of FIG. 6, but showing a modification of the roller drive;

FIG. 12 is a perspective rear view of a modification designed particularly for increased portability;

FIG. 13 is a detail view in perspective showing a foot for supporting and stabilizing the device; and

FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing a modification.

Referring to the drawings, the presently preferred embodiment of the invention selected for purposes of illustration and disclosure comprises an elongated case 2 having a front side wall 4, a rear side wall 6, an end wall 8, and a second end wall 10. The bottom of the case is closed by a bottom 12. The top of the case is openable and consists of two top portions 14 and 16, the portion 14 being hinged to the end wall 10 and the portion 16 hinged to the end wall 8, each top portion being adapted to move from its closed position of FIG. 1 to its open position of FIG. 2 wherein it lies in prolongation of the side wall to which it is hinged. The top portions 14 and 16 are maintained in closed condition for transportation or storage of the device by a conventional type of latch 18, and suitable latches (not shown) may be provided to hold the top portions in open position. A bale type handle 20 is pivotally mounted at its opposite ends on the end Walls 8 and 10 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The bottom of the case 12 is provided at each of its four corners with a foot 22, which serves to space the bottom 12 slightly above the surface on which the device stands. Pivotally mounted on the lower surface of the bottom 12 is a stabilizing bar 24. The bar 24 is pivotally mounted on a bolt 26, and, as appears in FIG. 1, when turned to lie generally parallel to the long dimension of the case, is totally covered by the bottom wall and out of sight. A spring 28 tends to rotate the stabilizing bar 24 about its pivot bolt 26 into the position shown in FIG. 2 in which it lies transversely of the long dimension of the case. Movement of the bar from its folded position, i.e.,' its position of FIG. 1, under the influence of spring 28, is prevented by the catch 30. When the catch 30 is lifted, the bar is automatically swung to the position of FIG. 2 by the spring 28. A stop pin 32 projecting downwardly from the bottom 12 prevents swinging movement of bar 24 beyond the position in which it lies generally at right angles to the long dimension of the case 2. Just before the stabilizing bar reaches itsposition in which it engages the stop pin 32 it strikes and raises a catch 34 which is pivoted on the case at 36. When the stabilizing bar has struck the pin 32 the catch 34 drops back into its normal position to retain the bar in its stabilizing or transverse position.

At each end of the stabilizing bar is an adjustable foot comprising a threaded member 38 having a knurled head 40 at its upper end and a pad 42 at its lower end, carried in the member 44 which is rotatably mounted on the end of the stabilizing bar 24. A coil spring 46 tends to rotate the foot into its operative position, in which it is held by engagement of the shoulder 48 with the stop pin 50. When the stabilizing bar 24- is in its folded position of FIG. 1 the foot member is rotated, as shown, to lie at right angles to its operative position so that it occupies less space and is received beneath the bottom 12. When the stabilizing bar upon release of catch 36 swings to its transverse, operative position, the foot at each end of the bar is automatically rotated by the spring 46 into its operative position so that the pads 4-2 engage the surface on which the device is to rest during use. The threaded members 38 may be adjusted by rotation of the head 40 to bring the pads 42 into firm engagement with the supporting surface, to give maximum stability to the device.

The display devices are carried on a main body 52 which is telescoped within the case 2. When the top portions 14, 16 have been raised into their vertical, open positions, the body portion 52 automatically rises out of the case and is held up by a latch. Referring particularly to FIGS. 3 and 4, the main body 52 comprises end walls 54, 56, a lower front wall 58 and a rear or upper wall 60. The wall-60 is pivoted on the end walls 5 56, by means of arms 62 so that it may be swung from its normal, folded position, appearing in phantom in FIG. 9, to its upper or display position as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. A latch, if desired, may be provided to hold the wall 60 in display position. When the wall 60 is in its upper or display position its outer surface lies in continuation of and gen-, erally in the same plane with the exterior surface of the front wall 58. The surfaces of the two walls 58, 60 together constitute a large flat display surface.

For the purpose of automatically raising the main body 52 out of the case 2, when the top of the case is opened, a flexible cord 64 has one of its ends anchored to the end wall 56 of the main body 66, and a similar cord (not shown) is provided at the other'end wall. The cord passes about a pulley 68 on the inside surface of the top portion 14 and passes therefrom downwardly to and about a pulley 69 on the bottom 1'2 and thence leads to a pulley 70 to the axle of which it is connected. A second cord 72 is anchored to the bottom 12 at 74, passes about the pulley 70 and is anchored at its other end 76 to one end of a coil spring 78 whose other end is anchored to the bottom 12 at 80. When the main body portion is telescoped within the case 2 in the position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 energy is stored in the springs 78 which, upon opening of the top portions 14, 16 is released to move the pulley 70 to the left as seen in FIG. 3, tensioning the cord 64 and raising the main body 52 so that it slides within the case and on the pivoted top portions 14, 16 to the position shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. When it has reached its upper position, the main body 54 is secured by a latch. It will be understood that a similar spring and cord arrangement (not shown) is present at the other end of the case. If necessary, the main body may be moved into its final upward position by hand.

A long length of paper or other suitable sheet material 82 is adapted to be passed, under the control of the operator, across the display surface provided by the main body walls 58, 60. Diagrams, writing or other information may be placed on the sheet '82 as desired beforehand, and the user of the device may, during the course of a lecture, write as desired on the sheet 82 to supplement the material already thereon and to illustrate his talk. The sheet 82 initially is wound on a lower roller 84 an in the course of a demonstration or lecture is wound from the roller 84 on to an upper roller 86. The rollers 84, 86 are provided with suitable end flanges 88 adapted to be supported on pivots 90, FIG. 5, suitably mounted on the plate 58. One of the pivots, at one end of each roller, may be movable toward and from the roll and spring-pressed, as is well-known, to facilitate insertion of the roller between the pivots. The flanges at one end of the rollers are engaged by driving pins 92 extending from driving discs 94 carried on drive shafts 96 supported in suitable brackets 98 from the plate 58. The shafts 96 may extend through the end wall 54 of the main body 52 and be provided with a crank whereby they may be turned by hand to rotate the rollers to move the sheet 82. I prefer, however, to provide power driven means for rotating the rollers to move the sheet under the control of the operator and means for this purpose will now be described.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 5, 6 and 8, I provide a drive shaft 100 journaled at one end in a bearing 102 in the end wall 56 of the main body 52, and driven at its other end by the motor 104, FIG. 4, through suitable reduction gear to provide a suitable chart speed, for example, a speed ranging between one and two feet per second. The motor 104 is controlled by switch 106 having an operating roller 108. The roller 108 is controlled by a switch operating segment 110 pivoted on the drive shaft 100 and having an operating handle 112 extending to the outside of the main body through an arcuate slot 114 in its end wall 56. The switch operating segment 110 is provided with two leaves 116 at its inner end separated by a notch 118. When the operating handle 112 is in its mid, or neutral, position, the switch operating roller 108 lies in the notch 1 18 and the switch is open. When the operating handle is moved upwardly in the slot 114 to the position shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, a leaf 116 is 4 moved downwardly to engage the switch operating roller 108 to close the switch and start the motor, rotating drive shaft 100. Adjacent its outer end the drive shaft carries a pair of pulleys 120, 122. The pulley 120 is connected to a pulley 124 on the drive shaft 96 of the upper roller 86 by means of a belt 126. The pulley 122 is connected to a pulley 128 on the drive shaft 96 for the lower roller 84 by means of a belt 130. Each of the belts 126, 130 is engaged by an idler roller, 132 and 134 respectively. The idler roller 132 is carried at the end of a pivoted arm 136 and is urged into engagement with the belt 126 by a belt tensioning spring 138, the tension of which may be adjusted by adjustment of an adjusting screw 140. The idler roller 134 similarly is pivoted on an arm 142 and urged into engagement with its belt 130 by spring 144 which likewise is adjustable in tension by adjustment of a screw 146. The springs 138, 144 are normally adjusted so that the idler rolls 132, 134 engage the belts with suflicient force to cause them to transmit to the pulleys 124, 128 a relatively low torque, of the order of two inch-ounces, for example. The pivoted arm 136 carries at its lower end a spring 148. When the operating handle 112 is moved into its upper position it causes the tail of the switch operating segment 110 to engage the spring 148 to increase the pressure of the roller 32 on belt 126. This increased pressure increases the torque transmitted by belt 126 to the pulley 124, overbalancing the torque applied to the pulley 128 causing the upper roller 86 to be rotated to move the sheet 82 upwardly across the display surface. At the same time, however, the torque applied by belt 130 to the lower roller 128 is continued, so that it exerts a drag on the lower roller 84 and thus keeps the sheet 82 tensioned so that it will lie fiat against the display surface. Movement of the operating handle 112 downwardly in the slot 114 similarly causes closing of the switch 106 by engagement of the operating roller 108 with a leaf 116, at the same time engaging the tail piece 150' with a spring 152 on the pivoted arm 142, increasing the torque applied by belt 130 to the pulley 128 so that it is greater than the torque applied by the belt 126 to the pulley 124 under the influence of the roller 132 which is now under the influence only of the tension spring 138 and is not acted on by spring 148 by engagement of tail piece 150 with spring 148. Consequently, downward movement of the operating handle 112 causes the lower roller 84 to be rotated, moving the sheet 82 downwardly across the display surface. At the same time, the upper roller 86 has a drag exerted on it to keep the sheet 82 taut and fiat, as before. As will be noticed from FIG. 7, the sheet 82 is wound on the rollers 84, 86 so that rotation of these rollers in the same directon, due to the fact that the drive pulleys 120, 122 rotate in the same direction, tends to cause the sheet 82 to be wound on both rollers. The result is that the sheet is wound on whichever of the rollers is caused to actually rotate by application to it of a greater torque, through belt 126 or belt 130, depending upon whether the operating handle 112 is in its upper or in its lower position, as described.

The main body 52 is guided in its upward and downward movements by a bracket 154 attached thereto and having adjacent the four corners thereof rollers 156 which run on the inner surfaces of the top members 14, 16 and the inner surfaces of the end walls 6 and 8 of the case 2. The anchor 66 for cord 64 may be located on this bracket.

A modified control for the reel drive is shown in FIG. 11. In this modification the switch operating segment 110 carries on its tail piece 150 an idler gear 158 freely rotatable thereon. The drive shafts 96 for the rollers 84, 86 carry in place of the pulleys 124, 128 gears 160, 162. The drive shaft 100 carries a gear 164 fixed thereon and meshing with the idler gear 158. The operating handle 112 passing through the arcuate slot 114 is fastened to 3 a bar 166 pivoted at 168 and connected through a link 170 to the tail piece 150. Movement of the operating handle 112 into its upper position moves the idler gear 158 into mesh with the gear 160 to drive the upper roller 86. Movement of the operating handle 112 into its lower position moves the idler gear 158 into mesh with the drive gear 162 for the lower roller 84. The switch operating segment 110, having a notch 118, as before, leaves the switch open when the segment 110 is in its neutral or mid position but closes the switch, when moved by handle 112 into either its upper or its lower position, by engagement of a leaf 116 of the segment with the operating roller 108, as in the modification previously described.

Shown in FIGS. 9 and is a modified arrangement for raising the main body 52 out of the case 2. Attached to the lower outer corner of the main body 52 by means of a bracket 170 is a link 172 attached to the bracket by a transverse member 174. The link 172 carries at its lower end a transverse shaft portion 176 connected at each of its ends by links 178, 178 to a transverse shaft 180 carried on a bracket 182 on the bottom 12 of the case 2. The links 172, 178 and 178' constitute in effect a toggle which, when the links are in the position shown in FIG. 10, serves to hold the body portion 52 in its elevated, display position. Springs 184 and 185 at the ends of the links tend to move the links into the straightened relationship shown in FIG. 10. A similar spring if desired may be provided on the shaft 176, also urging the links into straight relationship.

A similar system of links, springs and shafts is located at the opposite ends of the device to support the opposite end of the main body 52.

When the display device is to be taken down for transportation or storage, the toggles are broken by moving the shafts 176 toward the center of the case by hand, causing the main body 52 to be lowered. The main body is then pushed downwardly into the case 2 and the top members 14, 16 closed and latched. As in the case of the embodiment previously described, when the top portions 14, 16 are again opened the toggles constituted by the links 172, 178, 178 will raise the main body 52 out of the case 2.

In the modification of FIG. 12 the entire device has been reduced in depth from front to back to make it lighter and more conveniently portable. For this purpose the display surface is formed by two display surface members 188 and 190 connected along one edge of each by a hinge 192, which when folded together are received in the case 208 and can slide upwardly in the top members 210, 212 when the latter are opened. When the device is in use the members 188, 190 are opened out to lie generally in the same plane, as shown in FIG; 12. When the device is to be transported the member 188 is folded downwardly, to the rear as seen in FIG. 12, to lie fiat against the member 190. The device of this modification is not equipped with a power driven operating means for the rollers. The upper roller 84 is carried on brackets 194, 196 and the lower roller 84 is carried on brackets 198 and 200. Each of the brackets as shown is adapted to be swung into position to lie flat against the surface of the member 190 by means of a hinge 202. Cranks 204 and 206 permit the rollers to be rotated by hand as desired. Similar cranks may be employed in the modification of FIGS. 1 and 2.

The construction described immediately above permits substantial reduction in the front to rear dimension of the main case 208, which corresponds in function to the case 2 of the modification previously described. The case 208 is closed at the top by openable top portions 210, 212 which likewise are greatly reduced in their front to back dimension. It will be understood that the case 208 is provided with a stabilizing bar 24, previously described, and in fact this feature is particularly important in this modification as this modification is of reduced stability in a front to back direction due to its reduced thickness in this direction.

The modification of FIG. 14 incorporates features of the modification of FIGS. 9 and 10 with the stabilizer bar 24 of FIGS. 1 and 2. In this modification the links 178 instead of being connected to the inside of the bottom of the case 2 are instead interconnected by a crossbar 214. The stabilizing bar 24 instead of being mounted on the outside of the bottom of the case is mounted at the center of the crossbar 214. When the top portions of the case 2 are opened the main body 52 rises from the case, as in the modification of FIGS. 9 and 10 previously described. The main body is then lifted from the case together with the links 172, 178, 178' and the crossbar 214 with the stabilizing bar 24 thereon. The removed assembly then may be placed on a suitable supporting surface with the crossbar 24 at right angles to the crossbar 214, as appears in FIG. 14, whereupon the device is ready for use.

It will be understood that in the modifications in which the rollers are not motor driven, the rollers will be arranged so that they do not coast or overspin, as by providing frictional drag in the pivots or a single continuously acting brake.

It will be seen from the foregoing that the present invention provides a display device which is very convenient for use by a lecturer, for example, in presenting visual information to his audience. The material contained on the sheet 82 cannot get out of serial order, yet any part of this material can be quickly brought into the display position by the operator by simple manipulation of the handle 112 or cranks 210, 212. The portion of the sheet 82 which is in display position to be seen by the audience lies flat and is firmly supported so that the speaker may, if he wishes, write additional information thereon as he speaks. The walls 58, 60 which form the display surface are preferably made of a magnetic material such as steel or a ferromagnetic lalloy. A transparent overlay containing markings supplementary to or facilitating understanding of the markings on the sheet 82 may be laid upon the portion of the sheet which is on the display surface and held in place by small magnets placed thereover. Also, small objects, such as small motor cars or ships, made of a magnetic material, may be placed upon the sheet 82 in desired positions to further convey information to the audience and may be moved about as desired in the course of the explanation.

The display device is self-contained, provides its own stand and can be quickly set up on location when it is to be used. Likewise, it can be quickly taken down and completely contained in its own portable case. A supply of rollers may be carried in the case -2 containing various previously prepared sheets 82. v

I claim:

1. A display device comprising a carrying case having an openable top, a main body vertically slidable within said case and having means thereon for moving a sheet material across one of its exterior surfaces, and means for automatically raising said main body out of said case when the top of the case is opened.

. 2. A display device comprising a carrying case havin an openable top, a main body vertically slidable within said case and having means thereon for moving a sheet material across one of its exterior surfaces, and spring means for automatically raising said main body out of said case when the top of the case is opened.

3. A display device comprising a carrying case having an openable top, a main body vertically slidable Within said case and having means thereon for moving a sheet material across one of its exterior surfaces, a cord connected at one end to said main body and a spring having one end connected to said case and its other end adapted to exert a pull on said cord when said main body is within said case for automatically raising said main body out of said case when the top of the case is opened.

4. A display device comprising a carrying case having an openable top, a main body vertically slidable Within said case and having means thereon for moving a sheet material across one of its exterior surfaces, a pair of links pivotally connected to each other at one end of each link and respectively connected at their other ends to the main body and to the case, and a spring urging said links to move with respect to each other to automatically raise said main body out of said case when the top of the case is opened.

5. A display device comprising a carrying case having an openable top, a main body vertically slidable within said case and having a portion thereof pivoted thereon for movement into a position wherein one of its surfaces lies generally in the same plane with the exterior surface of another portion of said main body, and means on said main body for moving a sheet material across said surfaces.

6. A display device comprising a carrying case having an openable top, a main body vertically slidable within said case and having power driven means thereon for moving a sheet material across one of its exterior surfaces, control means on said main body for said power driven means, and means for raising said main body out of said case. p

7. A display device comprising a carrying case having side walls and an openable top, a main body telescoped within the case and slidable vertically within the case from a lower, carrying position in which it is wholly in side the case to a raised, display position in which it is mainly above said side walls, means for releasably supporting the main body in such raised position, and means for journaling on said main body a pair of rollers from one of which rollers a flexible sheet may be drawn across an exterior surface of the main body and wound onto the other roller.

8. A display device comprising a carrying case having side walls and an openable top, a main body telescoped within the ease and slidable vertically within the case from a lower, carrying position in which it is wholly inside the case to a raised, display position in which it is mainly above said side walls, means for releasably supporting the main body in such raised position, and means for journaling on said main body a pair of rollers from one of which rollers a flexible sheet may be drawn across an exterior surface of the main body and wound onto the other roller, said means for journaling being foldable into position to lie close to said main body.

9. A display device comprising a carrying case having an openable top including two top-forming portions each hinged at one end of the case and adapted when opened to extend vertically in prolongation of the end of the case on which it is hinged, a main body carrying thereon means for movably displaying a sheet material on an exterior surface of the main body, said main body being movable from a lower position within said case to an upper position in which it is supported by said topforming portions with said exterior surface exposed.

10. A display device comprising an elongated carrying case having an openable top, a main body having display devices thereon movable from a lower, carrying position within said case to an upper, display position in which it is supported on said openable top, a bar pivoted intermediate its ends on the outside of the bottom of the case, a spring tending to rotate said bar about said pivot, a catch for holding said bar against the action of said spring in position lengthwise of said case,

and a stop for preventing movement of said bar under the influence of said spring beyond a position generally crosswise of said case, and an adjustable foot at each end of said bar for engaging a support on which the case is placed to stabilize said display device on said support.

11. A display device comprising a carrying case having an openable top, a main body vertically slidable within said case from a lower position in which it is within said case to an upper position in which it is supported on said top, means on said main body for journaling thereon a pair of rollers for drawing a sheet material from one roller across an exterior surface of said main body and winding it on the other roller, and means for selectively rotating one or the other of said rollers.

12. A display device comprising a carrying case having an openable top, a main body vertically slidable from a lower position in which it is within said case to an upper position in which it is supported on said top, means on said main body for journaling thereon a pair of rollers for drawing a sheet material from one roller to the other across an exterior surface of said main body, power driven rotary means for rotating said rollers, and means for selectively establishing a driving connection between said rotary means and one of said rollers.

l3. A display device comprising a carrying case having an openable top, a main body vertically slidable from a lower position in which it is within said case to an upper position in which it is supported on said top, means on said main body for journaling thereon a pair of rollers for drawing a sheet material from one roller to the other across an exterior surface of said main body, power driven rotary means for rotating said rollers, and means for selectively connecting said rotary means to one or the other of said rollers to apply torque thereto and at the same time connect said rotary means to the other of said rollers to apply a lesser torque thereto.

14. A display device comprising a carrying case having an operable top, a main body vertically slidable Within said case and removable therefrom and having means thereon for moving a sheet material across one of its exterior surfaces, and toggle means for automatically raising said main body out of said case when the top of the case is opened.

15. A display device comprising a carrying case having an openable top, a main body vertically slidable within said case and having means thereon for moving a sheet material across one of its exterior surfaces, and toggle means for automatically raising said main body out of said case when the top of the case is opened.

16. A display device comprising a carrying case having an openable top, a main body vertically slidable from a lower position in which it is within said case to an upper position in which it is supported on said top, means on said'main body for journaling thereon a pair of rollers for drawing a sheet material from one roller to the other across an exterior surface of said main body, power driven rotary means for rotating said rollers, and gear means for selectively establishing a driving connection between said rotary means and one of said rollers.

17. A display device comprising a carrying case having an openable top, a main body vertically slidable within said case and having foldable means thereon for moving a sheet material across one of its exterior surfaces, and means for automatically raising said main body out of said case when the top of the case is opened.

No references cited. 

